Apparatus for affixing condenser tap straps to mounting strip material



y 27, 1952 A. L. HOGUE ETAL 2,597,363

APPARATUS FOR AFFIXING CONDENSER TAP STRAPS T0 MOUNTING STRIP MATERIAL Filed Aug. 26, 1948 Inventors:

Alfred L. Hague, GeorgeiHamilton,

by I Their" Attorney material.

Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES NT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR AFFIXING coNnENsER TAP STRAPS T MOUNTING STRIP MA- TERIAL Application August 26, 1948, Serial No. 46,206

The present invention relates to an apparatus for attaching a plurality of strips of material, at

spaced and equal intervals, to another strip of More particularly, the invention relates to an improvement over the apparatus for transversely affixing a plurality of conducting tap straps to a wider strip of insulating mounting material disclosed in the copending applications of Raney, Serial No. 41,804, filed July 31, 1948 and Serial No. 116,346 filed September 17, 1949, each assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. The broad aspects of any features disclosed in these copending applications and common to the instant application are to be regarded as prior art with respect to this present application which is directed to a particular combination of elements not disclosed in these prior art applications.

As was pointed out in the Raney application, Serial Number 41,804, to employ this combination of tap straps afiixed to a longitudinal strip of mounting material in the manner disclosed in the copending Hogue et al. application Serial No. 18,104, filed March 31, 1948, now Patent No. 2,547,644, it is essential that the longitudinal; strip of insulating material have the conducting tap straps affixed thereto not only at spaced and equal intervals but a portion of each tap strap must extend a predetermined distance, laterally beyond a longitudinal edge of the mounting strip, approximately equal to-the distance it is desired to have the tap strap project out of the finished condenser roll. It was moreover indicated that since each tap strap is intended to eventually be in good electric contact with a conducting foil or plate within a condenser roll it is important that an entire surface thereof be free of any contamination or form of insulating material.

However, to permit the best electrical connection with the external terminals mounted on the capacitor case, it is equally as important and desirable that both surfaces of the projecting portion of each tap strap be free of any contamination such as, for example, adhesive material employed to bond the tap straps to the mounting strips. In fact, so as not to in any way impair the winding or, subsequent unwinding of the finished roll of mounting material with tap straps affixed thereto, it is desirable that adhesive be applied only to such portions of the mounting strip or tap strap which will be contiguous once adhesively afiixed to each other.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for automatically affixing, at spaced and equal intervals, a plurality 1 Claim. (Ci. 154-L6) 2 of conducting tap straps to a mounting strip of insulating material.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for applying adhesive material to the mounting strip whereby only such surfaces of the mounting strip or tap strap as will be in engagement after amxing to each other will have adhesive applied thereto. a

This invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing the single figure of which perspectively and diagrammatically illustrates an apparatus embodying this invention the scope of which will be pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing, [0 represents a supply roll of insulating mounting material rotatably mounted on spindle o1 shaft H which in turn is supported by a stationary framework, not illustrated in the interest of simplicity. As supply roll H] is unwound, by drive means to be described hereinafter, the longitudinal strip of mounting material [2 therefrom is directed toward the right in the direction of the arrow and during this rightward passage passes over and is temporarily supported on support platform [3 also rigidly supported by the stationary framework.

A supply strip of conducting material I4 is fed from a supply roll or reel [5 over tension pulley I6 and under guide I! in the direction of the arrow toward and transversely over the platform 13 and the longitudinal supply strip of mounting material i2. To feed the conducting strip I 4 transversely toward the mounting strip, feed means is employed comprising a pair of cooperating feed rolls l8 and I9 fixedly mounted on shafts 2i) and 2| respectively which are positively interconnected by spur gears 22 and 23 respectively. Shaft is driven counterclockwise, as viewed, by bevel gear set 24 and shaft 25 which is in turn intermittently driven by a conventional Geneva motion comprising an escapement disk 26 keyed on the end of shaft 25 and constantly rotated escapement pin 27 mounted on an arm 28 keyed to drive shaft 29 which is constantly driven counterclockwise by a pulley or chain sprocket mounted thereon, but not shown, which in turn may be driven by a belt or chain from a motor neither of which are illustrated. Escapement disk 26 may have a number of radial recesses or notchesSB in its periphery, in this case four. Escapement pin 2'! is adapted to enter and exit from recesses 30 as drive shaft 29 rotates'to imon the framework. The fer-ware lower e'nd 33- of housing 32 is formed or machined to a knife edge the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. Conducting strip holding element 34- is mounted for vertical movement within housing 32, biased downward by a spring" therein and aligned for engagement with die slot 35 which has a width and is so aligned as to slidably accommodate conducting strip I4 as it is fedto'ward mounting strip I2. The downward travel of holding element 34 under itsspring bias is limited by the engagement of a pin 36- affixed thereto with the lower edge of a slot 31 in the side wall of knife housing 32'. Normally, holding element'3'4 is biased outof engagement with die slot 35- by spring 38 interposed between plate extension 39, fixed to housing 32; and the framework. Upward thrust of spring 38 is resisted by the engagementof top plate 40 suitably fixed tohousing 32; with the rounded end of an adjust-' ment" screw 4| threade'dly mounted in a beam or" level 42 'ro't'atably pivoted on pivot pin 43 fixedly mounted on the apparatus framework. clockwise rotation thus imposed by spring 38 on lever 42 is resisted by engagement of-the-opposite end thereof withthecontact surface of a cam 44mounted= on shaft 45. Cam 44 and shaft 45 arerotated by s'r'arocket'dli chain 4-I- and sprocket 48 keyed to shaft 49' which is positively driven by drive shaft 29 through spur gear set 50-.- Top plate 40 is provided with an overhang'ingextension containing a pair of spaced openings which servesto slidably accommodate a pair of vertical rods'5l' each of whichhas an adjustment nut 52 threadedon the upper endthereof. Vertical rods BI extend downwardly respectively through a pair' of spaced openings, having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the rods; in horizontal guide plate 53 fixed to the side wall of housing 32. At the-lower ends of vertical rods 51 isfixedly mounted a combination tamper and heater block 54 containing an electric heating element energized by circuit conductors 55. Normally, tamper and heater block 54 is'biased in a downward direction by' a pair of coil springs 56 respectively mountedaround the verticalrods t and interposed between collars 5-1 integral therewith and the overhanging extension of housing top plate40. Normally, the lower-most position of block- 54' under the biasing action of springs 56 is limited and controlled by the position-o nuts 52 on the threaded upper ends of rods 5|.

Longitudinal mounting strip I2 iscontinuo'usly unrolled from supply roll Ill by'a pair of feedrolls 58. and 59 between which the mounting strip is directed in itstravel towards'upport platform I3. Roll 58 is an idler roll the shaft 69 of which isbiaseddownwardlybysprings 6| sothat the'mo'unt'ingstrip I2 pulled fiict'ionally bet'weeri'rolls 58- and 59-. Roll 59 is mounted on rotatable shaft 62 on an extension of which-is keyed a sprocket wheel 63 which is driven by drive shaft '29 through spur gear set 50 sha'ft 4e, sprocket- 64' mounted thereon-and chain 65 inter-- connecting sprockets B3 and 64. Longitudinal mounting strip I2, with tap straps aflixed thereto is also continuously rewound as indicated at 65 representing a partially rewound reel of mounting material in rolling engagement with friction roll Bl" keyed to shaft which is also driven by drive shaft 2!! through s'p'ur gear set 50, shaft 49, sprocket 69 keyed thereto, chain 10 and sprocket II keyed to shaft 68. Mounting strip I2 is rewound on a core sleeve mounted on reel upshart-rawniems' supported on a pair of radius arms I'3"w hicliare in turn pivotedly mounted on the apparatus framework. The mounting of shaft I2 the pivoted radius arms results in constantrolling engagement of the reel being rewoune with friction drive roll 61 regardless of the-amountof -mounting material that has been rewound into a finished reel.

in itstravel from support platform I3 toward friction roll 61, mounting strip I2 is directed between another'pairof feed rolls "and 15-. Roll I4 is an'idier roll the shaft-P6 of which isbiased downwardly by springs IT so that the mounting strip' I2 is pulled frictionally between rolls [4 and T5 However, since drive feed' rolls'15 is mounted 'on' intermittently driven shaft 25; the mounting strip will only be moved intermittently by this pair of feed rolls; aithough" it is continuouslyunwound from supply roll I0 and rewoun'd, once the apparatus been started. Feed rolls I4 and T5, escapement disk 26 andthe radius arm of pin 21' are soproportioned and related to the" balance of the apparatus, hereinbefore described}thatrotation of roll I5; while pin 21 is in engagement with a* slot 30-, feeds mounting strip I2 toward friction roll- 61 ata much g'reater linear speed than it is being wound thereby on reel 66. Thereaft'euvi-hen pin 2=I be-- comes disengaged from a slot 30' in disk 26, there is n'o'further movement-oi rells 14 and I5 n'orof mountings-trip" I'Zovfplatform It for a momentar-y period during which "pm 21' is making a part of a revolution before engaging with the next adjacent slot in disk 26 and friction roll 61' is rewinding. the excess mounting strip previously and q'uickly fed 'for'waid by the feed rolls- I4- and 1-5; During. this momentary period; continuous rotation of feed' rolls" 58 and 59 unwinds an excess of mounting material from supply roll H) which excess is quickly taken 'upbythe next'increment of rotation of'feed rolls- 'I4"and I5. Excess' mounting material unwound from supply roll l0 during the momentary period feed? rolls 'I4- and 15 are stationary and excess mounting material fed" forward by rotation of these-rolls is controlled" and tension is maintained therein by'idler rolls- It-each piv'otally' mountedon a pair of radius-'afms 19'pi'votallymounted on the apparatus"framework.- The apparatus as thus far described: is substantially identical to the apparatus disciosedand' described in the above men'- tioned: impending appiicatio'n of Haney; serial No. 41,804.

However,-

aceoi danee with the present-invention", the necessity'of empioyinga supply strip f4 of conducting 'inaterialone surrace or which had been pr e coated w'itliadl'ie ve material is eliminated- Instead; acombination liquid adne'swe resei vo'iii and applicator i" prov-idea whi'clf-is rigidlymo f jec'tiii'g arm 8 I i'n't al witti beani- 42.-

bettom of'feser voit'M is piovided with-sloping sides thelowernio'stedges f which are spaced from each} other to form a c tanguiar: open-ingot slot in the. pattern or the" Normally this scribed, an end of mounting strip opening is closed liquid tight by a movable valve 82 having an adhesive applicator bar 83 integral therewith projecting below the terminating sides of the reservoir and slidable within the slot.

To maintain the valve in the closed position, a-'

strip of conducting material l4, a length slightly less than the width of mounting strip i2 and the reservoir 85 is so mounted on downwardly projecting arm 8| that the applicator bar is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mounting strip and the lowermost surface thereof is spaced from the mounting strip when beam 42 is in the position shown by the drawing.

To operate the apparatus hereinbefore del2 is first manually fed between feed rolls 58 and 59 pulled over support platform l3, between feed rolls I4 and 15 as shown and attached to the core sleeve on shaft 12 and an end of conducting strip i4 is manually directed between conducting strip feed rolls l8 and I9. Then-the drive motor, not shown, which turns drive shaft 29 is started. Thereafter, all the steps on our invention are executed automatically. Mounting strip feed rolls 14 and 15 quickly pull mounting strip i2 over platform 13 from an excess previously, unwound by feed rolls 58 and 59 off of supply roll I whereby a relatively narrow strip of liquid adhesive material, previously applied transversely on the mounting strip as will be described hereinafter, is brought into alignment with die slot 35. Simultaneously conducting strip feed rolls I8 and I9 rotate to feed the conducting supply strip through the die slot 35 toward and transversely over mounting strip l2. Thereafter,

pin 21 on arm 28 becomes disengaged from a slot 30 in escapement disk 25 to momentarily stop both the movement of mounting strip I2 over platform l3 and the feed of conducting strip I4 thereover. The various elements of the apparatus are interconnected as hereinbefore described and so synchronized that during this momentary period the periphery portion 86 of rotating cam 44, having the greatest radius, begins to roll into engagement with the beam 42 turning it counterclockwise about its pivot 43 i to force housing 32 downwardly against the upward bias of spring 38 and the lower end of holding elements 34 into die slot 35 and engagement with conducting strip I 4. Since tamper and heater block 54 is supported through rods and nuts 52 on top plate 40 fixed to housing 32, this downward motion also lowers block 54 into engagement with the conducting strip l4 previously fed over mounting strip I 2 to press it on to the relatively narrow adhesive strip previously applied to the mounting strip. Inasmuch as block 54 is hot by virtue of the heating element therein, this engagement between block and conducting strip tends to drive off volatile matter in the adhesive. Since reservoir 88 is rigidly mounted on the downwardly projecting portion SI of beam 42, this counterclockwise motion of the beam lowers the reservoir and the applicator bar 82, with a previously metered amount of adhesive along the bottom edge thereof, into engagement with the mount ing strip l2 whereby a narrow strip of'adhesive is transversely applied thereto. Additional rotation of cam 44 results in further counterclockwise rotation of beam 42 and further downward and slidable motion of housing 32 relative to holding element 34, which having engaged stationary die slot 35 and strip l4 remains stationary, whereby the knife edge 33 of housing 32 passes through and severs conducting strip- I4. Obviously, this additional downward movement of housing 32 is not only against the biasing action of spring,38 but also against the biasing action of the holding element spring within the housing whereby additional holding pressure is imposed on the strip I 4 during the severing thereof. Since block 54 has already been lowered into contact with the conducting strip l4 prior to the severing thereof, this additional downward movement of housing 32 also lowers guide plate 53 and top plate 40 relative to block support rods 5! to compress springs 56 whereby block 54 imposes considerable pressure on the severed conducting strip to affix it firmly, by the adhesive material, to the mounting strip.' Simultaneously, this additional counterclockwise rotation of beam 42 will lower reservoir in relation to valve 82, further downward movement of which is prevented by engagement :of applicator bar 83 with the mounting strip, where: by a quantity of adhesive is permitted to run between the V surfaces of the valve and the edges of the reservoir slot.

Thereafter, the constant rotation of shaft 45 and cam 44 driven thereby will permit clockwise rotati-on of beam 42 and upward motion of reservoir 83 whereupon valve 82 will be forced into the closed position by the biasing action of spring 84 and the applicator 83 will be raised out of engagement with mounting strip l2. The liquid adhesive previously released from the reservoir and which, in the interim has been slowly flowing down the side surfaces of the applicator will eventually collect along the bottom edge thereof where it will remain available for the next application. This clockwise rotation of beam 42 will simultaneously permit upward motion of housing 32 and block 54 subsequent to which feed rolls 14 and 15 will be rotated another increment to advance mounting strip l2 and the adhesive strip thereon into alignment with die slot 35 while conducting strip feed rolls l8 and [9 will be simultaneously rotated to feed another portion of conducting strip I4 transversely over the mounting strip.

Thus, a new and improved means has been provided'whereby a tap strap of conducting material having a predetermined portion projecting beyond or exterior a longitudinal edge of a strip of mounting material is automatically afiixed thereto at spaced and equal intervals in such a manner that both surfaces of the projecting portion of each tap strap are entirely free of any insulating material such as the adhesive employed to bond the tap to the mounting strip. Moreover, in accordance with this improved means the surface of the mounting strip intermediate the spaced tap straps afilxed thereto is left free of any such adhesive material.

While we have, in accordance with the patent statutes, shown and described a particular embodiment of out invention, modifications therein will be obvious to those skilled in the art and we, therefore, aim in the appended claim to cover 7 zi-lasuchchi'rrig'e's: as I9211=-v with-in the true spirit find scope of our invention.

What? we claim as new and desire to=-scure by-Letters-Patent-of the United States isz In amachine for fixing: a-eonducting tap strap pairofrotatable cooperating feed rolls for IHQV' ing: said mounting strip therebetween and across said-platform; temper movable nb rmail toeind engzrgieable" with said mO'U-htii'ig strip and transversely positioned thereover above in alignment with the d-irectidn'" of 'feed'of said 'e'onducting strip; and adhesiveapplicator movable norm'al to and enga'geable" with said mounting strip? and positioned transversely thereov'er a distance equal tdsaiti s aced a nd equal i'nte-i v =fi'om=seid c'e'riductizig strip; and drivem'earis tcirdtaite said first and-second pair of feed r0115 te'fee'd at end of" said eondu'cting strip toward and transversel over said mounting strip and said platform and tcfm'ove' said mountingstrip longitudinally across said platforme distancseciual to saidspa'ce'ri and equa1'= interval said: drive" meansincludin'g a. Geneva mechanism' tosimultaneeusm stap the rotation of said firstand= second pair 01:. Vie'ed rolls for amomentary period of time,-said drive means operable duringrsaid-momentaryperiod to actuate saidtemper to press against-saidmountingi" strip the portion of saidconducting strip transversely moved thereove'r; to actuate said applicatort0 apply a narrow strip of adhesive m'aterial transversely on said mounting stIip-aind thereafter to actuate said knife tetrahsversely sever a. portion from said conducting strip fed over said mounting strip.

ALFRED-'11.- HOGUEt.

GEORGE-E; HAMILTON;

REFEEENCES GIT- E1)" The fo'llowirig. references are of recordfiifzthe 

